TCF1044: Business in 20 Minutes

11 snips

Jul 26, 2025

Tim and Derek dissect the common traps contractors fall into while scaling their businesses too quickly. They share insights from their own journeys, stressing the importance of understanding overhead costs and knowing your numbers. The conversation highlights the trade-offs between operating solo and building a team. Listeners are encouraged to create solid business plans, implement smart scheduling, and hire judiciously to enhance efficiency. Real-life examples illustrate how strategic planning can transform a chaotic operation into a well-oiled machine.

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ANECDOTE

Young Operators Run Lean And Profitable

Derek noticed young detailers and tint installers running lean and charging confidently despite low overhead.
He warns many change what worked and scale too fast, killing profitability.

ADVICE

Don’t Scale Until Costs Match Revenue

Avoid scaling too quickly and adding overhead without calculating true costs.
Focus on replicating the lean systems that got you initial success before expanding.

ANECDOTE

Copying Prices Without Counting Overhead

Derek recounts copying a mentor's lawn prices and failing to account for hiring costs and equipment upgrades.
That mismatch forced him to cut more yards while making less profit.

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In this episode, Tim and Derek dive into the common pitfalls contractors face when trying to grow too quickly. Drawing from their own experiences and observations of younger entrepreneurs, they break down the key aspects of running a lean, profitable business and knowing when and how to scale. Whether you're just starting out or years into your business, this episode will push you to reflect on your goals and how to reach them without sabotaging your own success.

In this episode Tim and Derek discuss:

Observations of young entrepreneurs thriving in mobile detailing and window tinting businesses
The temptation to scale too quickly and how it can kill profitability
Mistakes they made early in their own businesses by not understanding overhead
Why knowing your numbers and calculating true costs is essential
Building a war chest and delaying hiring until it's absolutely necessary
The importance of knowing how much you want to make and building the business around that goal
Choosing between being a solo operator or building a team, and the trade-offs of each path
Developing a real business plan and vision, not just working job-to-job
How proper scheduling based on revenue—not convenience—can boost profits
Calculating employee burden and understanding the actual cost of hiring
Leveraging part-time help smartly and building systems to increase efficiency
Real-world examples of how their businesses now run like well-oiled machines thanks to planning, roles, and strategic hires
Hiring the right people in the right roles to free yourself up and stay consistent with marketing and growth

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